Rheumatoid arthritis nodules feet. Rheumatoid Arthritis in Feet: Comprehensive Guide to Symptoms and Treatments

21.11.197321.09.2021 by alexxlab

How does rheumatoid arthritis affect the feet. What are the common symptoms of RA in feet. Which treatments are effective for managing foot pain in RA. How can you prevent foot deformities caused by rheumatoid arthritis. What lifestyle changes can help alleviate RA symptoms in feet.

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Understanding Rheumatoid Arthritis and Its Impact on Feet

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory disorder that can significantly affect the feet. With 33 joints, 26 bones, and numerous muscles, tendons, and ligaments in each foot, these complex structures are particularly vulnerable to the effects of RA. More than 90% of people with RA experience foot and ankle symptoms during the course of their disease, making it a crucial area of focus for both patients and healthcare providers.

RA targets the synovium, the lining that lubricates joints. In RA, this lining becomes inflamed and thickened, producing excess joint fluid. This process, combined with inflammatory chemicals released by the immune system, leads to swelling, cartilage damage, and bone softening within the joints.

Why Are Feet Often Affected Early in RA?

Feet are often among the first areas affected by RA due to their small joint size. In fact, research indicates that for about 20% of RA patients, foot and ankle symptoms are the initial signs of the disease. This early involvement highlights the importance of prompt diagnosis and treatment to prevent long-term damage and maintain foot function.

Common Symptoms of Rheumatoid Arthritis in Feet

Recognizing the symptoms of RA in the feet is crucial for early intervention. Common manifestations include:

Swelling around affected joints
Redness and warmth in the affected areas
Pain, often severe and persistent
Stiffness, particularly in the morning or after periods of inactivity
Symmetrical involvement (typically affecting both feet)

A study comparing foot problems in RA patients to those without arthritis found that 98% of RA patients experienced foot pain, and 96% reported functional difficulties. This is significantly higher than the 76% and 66% reported in the healthy group, respectively.

How Does RA Foot Pain Differ from Other Types of Arthritis?

Unlike osteoarthritis, which typically affects one specific joint, RA usually occurs symmetrically, affecting the same joints on both sides of the body. This bilateral involvement is a hallmark of RA and can help distinguish it from other forms of arthritis.

Specific Foot Problems Caused by Rheumatoid Arthritis

As RA progresses, it can lead to various foot deformities and issues. Understanding these problems is essential for proper management and treatment.

Metatarsalgia: Pain Across the Ball of the Foot

Metatarsalgia is the most common foot issue associated with RA. It occurs when the intrinsic muscles in the foot lose their stabilizing forces, leading to dislocations or deformities at the metatarsophalangeal joint. This increases pressure on the forefoot, causing pain and inflammation across the ball of the foot.

Bunions: A Common RA Complication

Bunions are hard, painful, bony lumps that form on the joint at the base of the big toe. They occur when some of the bones in the front part of the foot move out of place, causing the big toe to push against the next toe. In severe cases, the big toe may even overlap the adjacent toe.

Hammertoe and Claw Toe: Joint Deformities

Weakened ligaments from RA can lead to hammertoe and claw toe deformities. These conditions result in permanently bent and curled toes, resembling a claw. Hammertoe in the second toe is particularly common in people who have a bunion on their big toe.

Heel Pain: A Progressive Symptom

As RA progresses, the hindfoot (heel region) may lose stability. The plantar fascia, a ligament connecting the heel to the front of the foot, attempts to support the arch but becomes stressed and inflamed, leading to heel pain.

Flatfoot Deformity: Changes in Foot Shape

RA can cause a progressive flattening of the foot arch, known as flatfoot deformity. This occurs when tendons, ligaments, and bones shift out of their normal positions, resulting in pain and discomfort along the inside or outside of the foot.

Diagnosis and Assessment of RA in Feet

Proper diagnosis of RA in the feet involves a combination of clinical examination, imaging studies, and laboratory tests. Early detection is crucial for preventing irreversible joint damage and maintaining foot function.

Clinical Examination

A thorough physical examination by a rheumatologist or podiatrist is the first step in diagnosing RA in the feet. The doctor will look for signs of swelling, redness, warmth, and deformities. They will also assess the range of motion in the foot and ankle joints and evaluate any pain or tenderness.

Imaging Studies

Various imaging techniques can help visualize the extent of joint damage and inflammation:

X-rays: To detect joint erosions and alignment changes
Ultrasound: To assess soft tissue involvement and early inflammatory changes
MRI: For detailed imaging of soft tissues and early bone changes

Laboratory Tests

Blood tests can help confirm the diagnosis of RA and monitor disease activity:

Rheumatoid factor (RF) and anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide (anti-CCP) antibodies
Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and C-reactive protein (CRP) to measure inflammation levels

Treatment Options for RA-Related Foot Problems

Managing RA in the feet requires a multifaceted approach, combining medical treatments with lifestyle modifications and supportive care.

Medications

Pharmaceutical interventions are crucial in managing RA and its symptoms in the feet:

Disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs): These medications, such as methotrexate, help slow the progression of RA and prevent joint damage.
Biologic agents: These newer drugs target specific components of the immune system involved in RA.
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs): These help reduce pain and inflammation.
Corticosteroids: Used for short-term relief of severe symptoms or flares.

Physical Therapy and Exercise

Regular exercise and physical therapy can help maintain joint flexibility and muscle strength. Specific exercises for the feet and ankles can improve range of motion and reduce pain. Low-impact activities like swimming or cycling can provide cardiovascular benefits without putting excessive stress on the feet.

Orthotics and Footwear

Proper footwear and custom orthotics can significantly improve comfort and function for RA patients:

Custom-made orthotics can provide support and redistribute pressure on the feet.
Shoes with a wide toe box and good arch support can accommodate foot deformities and reduce pain.
Rocker-bottom soles can help improve gait and reduce pressure on painful areas.

Surgical Interventions

In severe cases or when conservative treatments fail, surgical options may be considered:

Joint fusion (arthrodesis) to stabilize and align joints
Joint replacement for severely damaged joints
Tendon transfer or repair to improve foot function
Bunion correction or hammertoe repair

Lifestyle Modifications and Self-Care Strategies

Incorporating lifestyle changes and self-care practices can significantly improve quality of life for individuals with RA-affected feet.

Weight Management

Maintaining a healthy weight is crucial for reducing stress on the feet and joints. Even modest weight loss can lead to significant improvements in foot pain and function. A balanced diet rich in anti-inflammatory foods can also help manage RA symptoms.

Foot Care Routine

Establishing a regular foot care routine is essential:

Daily foot inspections to check for any new or worsening issues
Regular moisturizing to prevent dry, cracked skin
Gentle massage to improve circulation and reduce stiffness
Proper nail care to prevent ingrown toenails

Stress Management

Stress can exacerbate RA symptoms, including foot pain. Incorporating stress-reduction techniques such as meditation, yoga, or deep breathing exercises can help manage symptoms and improve overall well-being.

Preventing Foot Deformities in Rheumatoid Arthritis

While not all foot deformities can be prevented in RA, certain strategies can help minimize their occurrence and progression:

Early Treatment and Tight Disease Control

Initiating treatment early and maintaining tight control of disease activity is crucial in preventing joint damage and deformities. Regular check-ups with a rheumatologist and adherence to prescribed treatments are essential.

Proper Footwear and Support

Wearing appropriate shoes and using custom orthotics can help maintain proper foot alignment and reduce the risk of deformities. Avoiding high heels and shoes with narrow toe boxes is particularly important.

Regular Exercise and Stretching

Engaging in foot and ankle exercises can help maintain joint flexibility and muscle strength, potentially slowing the progression of deformities. A physical therapist can provide guidance on appropriate exercises tailored to individual needs.

Living with RA-Affected Feet: Coping Strategies and Support

Living with RA-affected feet can be challenging, but various coping strategies and support systems can help improve quality of life.

Adaptive Equipment and Home Modifications

Using adaptive tools and making home modifications can enhance independence and reduce foot stress:

Long-handled shoehorns and sock aids
Grab bars in the bathroom
Non-slip mats in wet areas
Raised toilet seats to reduce stress on feet and knees

Support Groups and Patient Education

Joining support groups, either in-person or online, can provide valuable emotional support and practical tips for managing RA. Patient education programs can empower individuals to take an active role in their treatment and self-care.

Occupational Therapy

Occupational therapists can provide guidance on energy conservation techniques and ways to modify daily activities to reduce stress on the feet. They can also recommend assistive devices to maintain independence and productivity.

In conclusion, rheumatoid arthritis can significantly impact foot health and function. However, with early diagnosis, appropriate treatment, and comprehensive care, many individuals with RA can maintain foot health and quality of life. Regular monitoring, adherence to treatment plans, and a proactive approach to self-care are key to managing RA-related foot problems effectively. As research continues to advance our understanding of RA and its treatments, new therapies and management strategies may offer even better outcomes for those affected by this challenging condition.

Rheumatoid Arthritis in the Feet: Symptoms and Treatments

Thirty-three: that’s how many joints are in just one foot. Each of your feet also contains 26 bones, plus a whole lot of muscles, tendons, and ligaments — making them a prime target for rheumatoid arthritis. Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic, inflammatory disorder in which your immune system mistakenly attacks the lining of membrane that surrounds your joints. It tends to target smaller joints first, such as those in your hands — and often, your feet. In fact, more than 90 percent of people with RA will develop pain, stiffness, swelling or other symptoms in the foot and ankle over the course of the disease, according to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. You can read here about common rheumatoid arthritis symptoms.

How Rheumatoid Arthritis Affects the Feet

Joints are covered with a lining called synovium. Its job is to lubricate the joint so it moves more easily. RA causes an overactivity in this lining. The synovium becomes inflamed, thickens, and produces an excess of joint fluid. That extra fluid — along with the inflammatory chemicals released by the immune system — causes swelling, damages cartilage and softens the bone within the joint. A systemic disease, RA also affects ligaments and surrounding soft tissue, says Brett Sachs, DPM, foot and ankle surgeon in Colorado. “When that happens, the joints start to weaken and that’s when the deformities can occur,” explains Dr. Sachs, who is also a fellow member of the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons. Rheumatoid arthritis tends to affect the joints in your feet more quickly in part because they are smaller, says Dr. Sachs. Research shows in about 20 percent of RA patients, foot and ankle symptoms are the first signs of the disease.

What Does Rheumatoid Arthritis in the Feet Feel Like?

When your feet are affected by rheumatoid arthritis, you may experience swelling, redness, and a feeling of warmth around the affected joints. Pain is very common as well. In one study comparing foot problems in RA patients versus people without arthritis, 98 percent of RA patients had foot pain and 96 percent reported some difficulty in function, compared to 76 percent and 66 percent, respectively, in the healthy group. Compared with osteoarthritis, which typically affects one specific joint, rheumatoid arthritis usually occurs in the same joints on both sides of your body — so it commonly affects both feet at once. Symptoms may flare, then go into periods of remission. Here’s more information about coping with rheumatoid arthritis flares. Over time, rheumatoid arthritis can cause joints to deform and shift out of place. Specific foot problems caused by RA include:

Pain across the ball of your foot

The medical term is metatarsalgia — and it’s the most common foot issue associated with RA, says Jonathan Rouse, DPM, a podiatrist based in Nebraska and spokesperson with the American Podiatric Medical Association. Once the intrinsic (or deeper) muscles in your foot lose their stabilizing forces, dislocations or deformities can occur at the metatarsophalangeal joint (which connects the toe to the foot), thus increasing pressure on the forefoot and causing pain and inflammation across the ball of the foot, explains Dr. Rouse. People with RA may also experience fat pad atrophy — or a thinning and wearing out of the normal fat pad that goes across the ball of your foot — which can exacerbate pain, adds Dr. Sachs.

Bunion

This hard, painful, bony lump that forms on the joint at the base of your big toe is a common complaint among RA patients, says Dr. Sachs. It occurs when some of the bones in the front part of your foot move out of place, causing the big toe to push against the next toe and the joint at the base of your big toe to stick out, according to the Mayo Clinic. Sometimes your big toe turns so far in that it moves on top of the toe next to it.

Hammertoe and claw toe

Weakened ligaments from RA can cause these two joint deformities, conditions where toes are permanently bent and curled under, like a claw. Hammertoe in the second toe is common in people who have a bunion in the big toe.

Heel pain

As RA progresses, the hindfoot (or heel region) will begin to lose stability, says Dr. Rouse. The plantar fascia — a ligament that connects the heel to the front of the foot — will still try to do its job and support the arch of your foot, he explains; however, the added stress and inflammation will weaken the structure and can lead to pain.

Changes in the shape of your foot

Flatfoot deformity — a progressive flattening of the arch of your foot — can occur in rheumatoid arthritis, when tendons, ligaments, and bones shift out of their normal positions, causing pain and discomfort along inside or outside of your ankle. If RA damages ligaments that support the top of your foot, your arch may also collapse, which can cause the front of the foot to point outward, according to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. Shape changes in the front of the foot and toes can create pressure sites that then develop calluses, or areas of hard thickened skin. All of these changes in the shape of the foot can make it very difficult to comfortably wear shoes.

Rheumatoid nodules

Some people with RA develop hard lumps under the skin called nodules, often around pressure points. In the feet, nodules may appear over the Achilles tendon, in the heel pad or over any bony spots, and can cause pain if they rub against shoes or along the floor while you walk.

How to Keep Your Feet Healthy with Rheumatoid Arthritis

Though there is no cure for rheumatoid arthritis, you can take steps to manage symptoms and stay active. To help keep your feet healthy:

1. Stick to your RA treatment plan

This is key to ease symptoms and reduce the risk of deformity, says Dr. Sachs. Depending on the severity of your symptoms and how long you’ve had rheumatoid arthritis, your rheumatologist may prescribe a combination of medications. The goal of RA treatment is to stop systemic inflammation so you can achieve low disease activity or remission, which can prevent symptoms like pain and fatigue, as well as long-term joint and organ damage. Commonly prescribed medications include non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) to relieve pain and reduce inflammation, steroids to reduce inflammation and slow joint damage, disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) to slow the progression of RA, or biologics, which are more complex, targeted DMARDs that act on certain immune system pathways that trigger inflammation.

2. Exercise

It may seem counterintuitive, but staying active can help ease arthritis symptoms in your feet, says Dr. Sachs. Here’s why: Regular exercise and stretching strengthens muscles, keeps joints flexible, and reduces pain in alljoints — from your hips and shoulders to your ankles and feet. Plus, it helps burn calories, so you shed extra pounds and lighten the load on the joints of your feet. It’s important to find comfortable ways to stays active if you have foot pain. Low-impact exercise that doesn’t cause you to bear as much weight on your feet (think swimming or biking) is less stressful on the joints in your feet. Here are daily stretches you can try for arthritis foot pain. Talk to your doctor or podiatrist about which of these and other moves are safe for you.

3. Rest through RA flares

“They can come out of nowhere,” says Dr. Rouse. His advice: “Rest as much as possible to let the inflammatory process dissipate before becoming active again.” Ice or other forms of cold therapy can also help reduce swelling and pain during flare of RA. Here are more tips to help handle arthritis flare-ups.

4. Make sure the shape of your shoes matches the shape of your feet

That may mean a roomy toe box to accommodate bunions or hammertoes, or an extra-wide shoe to reduce pressure on painful spots. Sturdy, supportive shoes are crucial to ease arthritis foot pain. Custom orthotics or a good over-the-counter shoe insert can provide even more comfort and extra support, adds Dr. Sachs. “These inserts can help rebalance the foot, give your arch more support, and help cushion the ball of your foot. ” Talk to your doctor to determine the best footwear for you. Here are more tips for picking the right shoes when you have arthritis.

5. Consider a steroid shot

Cortisone injections into the affected joint can help reduce inflammation. The catch: It’s a temporary fix, and it won’t stop the progression of the disease.

6. Schedule a surgery consult

Depending on how much cartilage damage you have and your response to other RA treatments, your doctor may recommend foot surgery. Fusion of the affected joints is the most common type performed for RA, according to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. The procedure takes the two bones that form a joint and fuses them together to make one bone. Other types of surgery can help correct bunions or hammertoes in some patients. Your doctor will determine your best course of treatment.

Not Sure What’s Causing Your Foot Pain?

Check out PainSpot, our pain locator tool. Answer a few simple questions about what hurts and discover possible conditions that could be causing it. Start your PainSpot quiz.

Foot and Ankle Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) Symptoms

For 20% of patients, foot and ankle joints are the first ones affected by this chronic systemic autoimmune disease. Both symptoms and possible foot deformities are described below.

See Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) Symptoms

A person with rheumatoid arthritis in the foot and ankle typically has some of the following symptoms:

Swelling. The toes, feet, and ankles may swell due to inflammation and a buildup of synovial fluid in the joints. Swelling is often most noticeable at the big toe joint, the ankle, and the instep.

Redness, warmth, and tenderness. The skin over the affected joints may appear flushed and feel warm or hot to the touch. The joints may feel tender to the touch or when bearing weight. For example, because of joint changes, the fat pad at the ball of the foot may not longer offer cushion when standing and walking, resulting in tenderness and pain.

Pain and stiffness in the heels, balls of feet, toes or ankles. People with rheumatoid arthritis often complain of stiffness and pain in the feet, especially in the morning or after prolonged periods of inactivity. Walking, climbing stairs, and even wearing shoes may become difficult. Pain and stiffness can be especially pronounced where the base of the arch meets the heel, on the inside of the ankle, and in the toes.

Achilles tendon pain. Located at the back of the ankle, above the heel, the Achilles tendon can become inflamed and cause pain, particularly when walking uphill or squatting down.

Symmetrical inflammation. Unlike osteoarthritis, which may only affect one foot or ankle at a time, rheumatoid arthritis usually occurs to the same degree on both sides of the body.

Malaise, fever, and fatigue. As an autoimmune disorder that affects the whole body, rheumatoid arthritis impacts more than just the bones and joints. Patients may feel tired, feverish, and generally unwell during flare-ups.¹

See How Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) Causes Fatigue

Rheumatoid nodules. These round, hard bumps often form underneath the skin in people with rheumatoid arthritis. They frequently appear on the balls of the feet, and also may appear on the sides of the feet, on the toes, or on the instep. Rheumatoid nodules can rub up against shoes and cause pain when walking.

See Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) Diagnosis

Some people have persistent symptoms, while others may go for long periods with no symptoms before flare-ups return. The disease progresses at different rates for different people, with some people experiencing rapid joint damage that can result in permanent foot deformity.²

Common Types of Foot Deformities

The advent of medications to treat rheumatoid arthritis has reduced the likelihood of severe deformities to the toes and foot. However, deformities are possible when bone and soft joint tissue have degraded and bones no longer align normally.

The most common foot deformities are described below.

Dislocated toes may result when metatarsophalangeal joints degenerate. The dislocated toes may angle outward, toward the smallest toe.

Bunions occur when the big toe dislocates and becomes misaligned. The top of the big toe angles toward the smaller toes while the base of the big toe juts away from the foot. This misalignment creates a large bony bump, or bunion, on the side of the foot. In addition, the big toe may cross over the second toe.

Claw toes and hammer toes, where one or more toes become permanently bent in an abnormal position. People with severe claw toes can have a difficult time finding shoes that fit, and even when they do, the friction between shoes and toes can injury the skin. Walking may be challenging.

Flatfoot deformity, which occurs in severe cases of rheumatoid arthritis that have damaged the ligaments, tendons, and sometimes even the bones of the midfoot. As these tissues are injured, the foot’s natural arch collapses, and the foot turns abnormally outward from the ankle and heel. A large bump may also form on the inside of the foot in the arch’s former location.

A widened forefoot may develop as the joints and tissues in the front half of the foot degrade, causing the forefoot to spread out.

Foot deformities may be prevented or postponed with treatment. If moderate or severe foot deformities do appear a doctor may recommend they be corrected with surgery.

References

Pain in the Feet As a Symptom of Rheumatoid Arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) can strike anywhere, and that includes your feet. In fact, foot inflammation and pain is an early symptom for many people. Foot symptoms in RA can take many forms, including pain in the joints, stiff ligaments, or constant aching. Symptoms are generally worse after a lot of standing, walking, or running.

The onset of foot pain is gradual for some people with RA and immediate for others. At some point, though, most people with this disease discover that their foot joint pain makes it very painful to walk.

Verywell / Tim Liedtke

How RA Affects Feet

Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune condition in which your immune system mistakes a fluid in your joints (synovial fluid) and the joint lining (synovium) for a dangerous pathogen and tries to destroy it.

This results in damage and inflammation that makes your joints swell up and feel warm. The small joints, such as those in the feet, are the most common targets of these attacks.

Eventually, chronic inflammation thickens the synovium and causes cartilage and bone to erode. In the feet and toes, this can cause deformities in the joints, diminished range of motion, and considerable pain. Walking, standing, and even wearing shoes can become difficult.

Proper treatment may help reduce the damage and inflammation to your foot joints and prevent or delay deformities and other problems.

RA vs. Osteoarthritis

When you first start having foot pain, you may wonder if it’s due to osteoarthritis (OA), which is more common than rheumatoid arthritis.

While there’s no clear-cut way to tell other than to get a medical diagnosis, OA and RA do have some key differences.

OA Foot Pain

Most often affects only one foot
Stiffness tends to be easier to relieve in the morning, often diminishing in less than half an hour or with a few minutes of stretching

RA and Foot Deformities

When it comes to the feet, rheumatoid arthritis typically affects the metatarsophalangeal (MTP) joints of the toes. It can, especially without treatment, lead to significant foot deformities.

Lateral drift: Over time, the toes may “drift” outward, toward the little toe. This is sometimes called a lateral drift or lateral deviation and it looks like the toes are leaning.
Bunions: The feet may develop bunions (hallux valgus), which are painful bony lumps.
Contractures: RA may also cause your forefoot to shift, which can lead to permanent shortening of muscles or tendons in your toes (i.e., contractures). A well-known type of contracture is hammertoes, which is when the toe is permanently flexed and curled under. Contractures can lead to calluses and pain under the ball of the foot.
Flat feet (pes planus): The talonavicular joint, which is part of the foot’s arch, can become destabilized and cause the arch to collapse.

All of these changes to a foot’s structure and shape can make finding a comfortable shoe more difficult for someone with RA.

Managing Foot Pain in RA

The systemic treatments you get for rheumatoid arthritis may go a long way toward relieving your foot pain. However, you may need to find other ways to help manage foot-specific pain and cope with deformities.

Common strategies include:

The approach that works best for you will depend on several factors, including what joints are affected and to what degree.

If these conservative approaches aren’t successful, you may need to consider surgery. Deformities like bunions and hammertoes can often be surgically treated.

In some cases, doctors fuse together the bones that form a joint to limit motion, which reduces pain. Depending on the specific bones that are fused, you may or may not notice the loss of motion.

A Word From Verywell

While not everyone with RA will develop foot problems, the majority of people do have at least some foot-related symptoms. The most important thing to note, though, is that you have a lot of drug options as well as conservative treatments that can make a tremendous difference in managing all aspects of the disease.

A close relationship with your rheumatologist—who will work to relieve your pain and inflammation, halt joint damage, and improve your sense of well-being—will ensure the best outcomes possible throughout the course of your disease.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does RA affect toes and feet?
Rheumatoid arthritis affects the tissue that lines the joints, causing them to swell and become painful and warm to the touch. Small joints in the feet are common targets. Over time, chronic inflammation can cause cartilage and bones to erode, leading to deformities in the feet and toes.
How can you tell the difference between rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis in the foot?
The main differences are that osteoarthritis typically only affects one foot, while rheumatoid arthritis affects both feet. In both OA and RA, pain and stiffness are greatest in the morning. While OA pain usually resolves within a half-hour of getting out of bed, RA morning pain lasts longer.
How do you ease RA foot pain?
Rest, ice, and over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medications are commonly used to ease pain early in the course of RA. As the disease becomes more advanced, prescription medications and steroid injections may be needed to manage pain. Occupational therapy, orthotics, braces, or therapeutic footwear can also provide relief.
In more advanced cases, surgery may be needed to correct deformities from RA or fuse bones together to reduce motion that causes pain.

Rheumatoid Arthritis: How to Relieve Foot Pain

Joint Pain and Inflammation With Rheumatoid Arthritis

Just as with joints in other parts of the body, rheumatoid arthritis causes inflammation of the lining (the synovium) of the joints in the foot, according to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS).

“Inflamed joints can be eroded and leave a scarred joint; the ball of the foot then becomes a rough, bumpy bone,” says Robert W. Lightfoot, MD, a professor of internal medicine in the division of rheumatology at the University of Kentucky in Lexington. “Active inflammation and eroded, damaged bones cause pain.”

Painful Foot Problems Related to RA

One of the targets of this inflammation is the joint capsule, which normally acts like a sleeve, protecting the joint by adding stability to it.

Some of the deformities related to rheumatoid arthritis include:

Bunions (Hallux Valgus) This is an enlargement of the joint at the base of the big or little toe.
Hammertoe Hammertoes and claw toes occur when the toes are permanently bent under.
Bursitis Fluid-filled sacs (called bursae) develop under the ball of the foot and may become inflamed and swollen. They commonly occur along with bunions.
Charcot Arthropathy, Also Called Charcot Foot and Ankle If one or more joints in the ankle or foot become severely damaged, the foot may collapse, resulting in a deformity called Charcot arthropathy.
Plantar Fasciitis Inflammation of the plantar fascia in the sole of the foot causes pain under the heel.
Rheumatoid Nodules These firm lumps, which are the size of a pea, occur where pressure is put on the foot, like the soles and the big toe joints.
Valgus Heel Joint damage may cause the heel to push outward, which results in valgus heel.

Rheumatoid Arthritis May Lead to Other Foot and Ankle Issues

Another foot problem experienced by people with RA is nerve pain. “Peripheral nerve pain in the foot can cause burning, tingling, and tenderness,” Dr. Lightfoot says. “Continued pressure on the medial side of the foot can then result in nerve entrapment, or tarsal tunnel syndrome.”

Foot pain often occurs in the joints or ball of the foot. In fact, for about 20 percent of people with RA, foot and ankle issues are the first symptom of rheumatoid arthritis, according to AAOS.

Related: 6 Great Hacks That Help With Rheumatoid Arthritis Foot Pain

Manage the Rheumatic Disease, Manage the Foot Pain

Surgery is often needed to alleviate the pain associated with bunions, hammertoes, and nodules, according to AAOS. Foot surgery may involve resetting the bones or fusing joints to correct the position of bones and joints.

Local steroid injections are particularly beneficial for inflamed joints and plantar fasciitis. But before you schedule surgery or an office visit for injections, you might try non-invasive approaches such as braces, or choose shoes or inserts designed to support your feet, AAOS recommends.

Uncontrolled inflammation leads to joint bone erosions and other damage, which leads to foot deformities, said Lightfoot. “Early use of the newer and much more effective remittive drugs to lesson or eliminate inflammation is key to preventing bone damage and resulting deformities,” Lightfoot says.

What’s the Right Footwear When You Have RA?

“Narrow-toed or pointy-toed shoes, as well as heels, are bad for the foot as they cause the wearer to put pressure on the ball of the foot and can cause marked deformities,” Lightfoot says. “An oxford-type shoe with a low heel, wide toe, and high ceiling that will not rub the foot is best. ”

Good arch support will help distribute the weight evenly on the entire foot, and orthotics — special devices put into the shoe — can alleviate foot pain caused by rheumatoid arthritis and possibly prevent deformities in the foot, Lightfoot adds.

8 Tips to Relieve or Avoid Foot Pain

In addition to the right footwear, pain medications, and surgery, there are things you can do to reduce foot pain from rheumatoid arthritis:

Change your exercise of choice. It’s important to exercise to keep your joints mobile, but choosing exercises like swimming that don’t put more pressure on your feet can help avoid additional foot pain. Kramer says she enjoys bicycling when she can.
Work with a podiatrist. Mattar explains that a foot specialist might be able to help you find the best orthotics for your shoes, and also help your feet feel more comfortable by caring for calluses and other irritations.
Buy shoes you will actually wear. People don’t always wear the special shoes they’ve been prescribed, for reasons such as dissatisfaction with fit, comfort, or style, Mattar says. Try out new shoes by wearing them in a variety of situations and at a variety of times, recommends Kramer, who orders her shoes online and returns them if they don’t meet her standards.
Listen to your feet. Kramer says she has learned to choose what shoes she’ll wear each day by being better in tune with her feet. “I don’t have a ton of shoes, but what [shoes] I have are quality and allow me to listen to what my feet have to say,” she explains. For example, on some days her feet need lots of support, while on others, they need room to breathe.
Take the load off. Avoid standing all day. Try to alternate the activities you do so that you’re sitting part of the day, and standing at other times.
Lose weight. The more you weigh, the greater your risk of foot joint pain with or without rheumatoid arthritis, finds research published in Arthritis Care & Research. Aim for a healthy body weight.
Check your feet daily for problems. Cover blisters or minor cuts and scrapes as soon as you get them; see your doctor if they haven’t healed in two or three days.
Take a warm foot bath or get a massage. The Arthritis Foundation recommends trying hot or cold therapies as needed to ease aching joints. Kramer swears by a daily foot massage that she gives herself with coconut oil.

The best way to manage your foot pain is by keeping your rheumatoid arthritis under control. If you do, you can keep your feet happy.

Additional reporting by Madeline Vann, MPH.

Rheumatoid Arthritis In The Foot And Ankle – Five Cities Foot & Ankle Clinic

What is Rheumatoid Arthritis?
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a disease in which certain cells of the immune system malfunction and attack healthy joints.

RA causes inflammation in the lining (synovium) of joints, most often the joints of the hands and feet. The signs of inflammation can include pain, swelling, redness, and a feeling of warmth around affected joints. In some patients, chronic inflammation results in damage to the cartilage and bones in the joint. Serious damage can lead to permanent joint destruction, deformity, and disability.

When joints become inflamed due to RA, the synovium thickens and produces an excess of joint fluid. This overabundance of fluid, along with inflammatory chemicals released by the immune system, causes swelling and damage to the joint’s cartilage and bones.

Symptoms Affecting the Foot and Ankle
Foot problems caused by RA commonly occur in the forefoot (the ball of the foot, near the toes), although RA can also affect other areas of the foot and ankle. The most common signs and symptoms of RA-related foot problems, in addition to the abnormal appearance of deformities, are pain, swelling, joint stiffness, and difficulty walking.

Deformities and conditions associated with RA may include:

Rheumatoid nodules (lumps), which cause pain when they rub against shoes or, if they appear on the bottom of the foot, pain when walking
Dislocated toe joints
Hammertoes
Bunions
Heel pain
Achilles tendon pain
Flatfoot
Ankle pain

Diagnosis
RA is diagnosed on the basis of a clinical examination as well as blood tests.

To further evaluate the patient’s foot and ankle problems, the surgeon may order x-rays and/or other imaging tests.

Treatment by the Foot and Ankle Surgeon
While treatment of RA focuses on the medication prescribed by a patient’s primary doctor or rheumatologist, the foot and ankle surgeon will develop a treatment plan aimed at relieving the pain of RA-related foot problems. The plan may include one or more of the following options:

Orthotic devices. The surgeon often fits the patient with custom orthotic devices to provide cushioning for rheumatoid nodules, minimize pain when walking, and give needed support to improve the foot’s mechanics.
Accommodative shoes. These are used to relieve pressure and pain and assist with walking.
Aspiration of fluid. When inflammation flares up in a joint, the surgeon may aspirate (draw out) fluid to reduce the swelling and pain.
Steroid injections. Injections of anti-inflammatory medication may be applied directly to an inflamed joint or to a rheumatoid nodule.

When is Surgery Needed?
When RA produces pain and deformity in the foot that is not relieved through other treatments, surgery may be required. The foot and ankle surgeon will select the procedure best suited to the patient’s condition and lifestyle.

Rheumatoid nodules in rheumatoid arthritis (RA)

Resource

Rheumatoid nodules are firm lumps that appear under the skin in up to 20% of patients with RA. They usually occur overexposed joints that are subject to trauma, such as the finger joints and elbows.

Rheumatoid nodules are firm lumps that appear subcutaneously (i.e. under the skin) in up to 20% of patients with rheumatoid arthritis. These nodules usually occur overexposed joints that are subject to trauma, such as the fingers joints and elbows, though occasionally they can occur elsewhere such as the back of the heel. They are usually non-tender and only occasionally painful, and very rarely the overlying skin can become infected or even ulcerate. Rarely they can occur in the lungs and vocal cords.

There is a suggestion that the incidence of rheumatoid nodules is falling (possibly due to the reducing severity of rheumatoid arthritis), but nowadays they are most commonly seen in patients commenced on methotrexate therapy in whom the nodules that develop tend to be small and multiple (micronodules) most commonly around the finger joints. About 8% of patients on methotrexate develop micro-nodules, and we don’t really know why. The image with this article shows a severe case of rheumatoid nodules. Micro-nodules are normally slightly smaller, at around 0.5cm across.

Rheumatoid nodules are very firm and are made of inflammatory tissue but under the microscope show intense inflammatory changes that are different from the ones that are found within the joints. This explains why disease-modifying drugs and biological therapies may not reduce the size of the nodules even though they may have an excellent effect on controlling joint disease.

Who develops rheumatoid nodules?

Patients who develop nodules are more likely to be smokers, tend to have more severe disease, are almost invariably rheumatoid factor and CCP positive. They are more prone to other extra-articular (meaning outside of the joint) features of rheumatoid, including vasculitis (inflammation of blood vessels) and lung disease. Very occasionally, rheumatoid nodules can develop within the lungs. These are usually asymptomatic (i.e. you would not experience any symptoms from this) but can cause concern to doctors because of uncertainty about the diagnosis and may require additional tests such as a CT scan.

What can we do about nodules?

There is little research in this area. Combination disease-modifying therapies and the biological therapies, in particular rituximab, seem to have reduced the incidence of nodule formation. If micronodules develop while on methotrexate, then the addition of hydroxychloroquine and other disease-modifying drugs, including prednisolone, may reduce their size.  

If nodules are small, they can be ignored. However, if they are subject to repeated trauma, surgical removal is an option. Occasionally, injection of steroid into or just under the nodule can reduce their size. 

_{References available on request}

Rheumatoid Arthritis Foot Treatment | Los Angeles Foot Doctor

Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients Struggle with Impaired Range of Motion

Arthritis impacts the lives of nearly 52 million American adults. From this statistic, about 41 per 100,000 people are diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis an autoimmune disease that attacks the tissues surrounding the joints in our bodies. This disease impairs the body’s immune system and its ability to protect against the attack of foreign cells, such as bacteria and viruses. As a result, the confused immune system develops antibodies and attempts to destroy the bacteria – using up the body’s natural energy sources which eventually weaken the musculoskeletal structure.

It is unfortunate that rheumatoid arthritis is not a localized disease of the bones and joints. It disturbs tissues throughout the body, causing damage to blood vessels, nerves, and tendons. Deformities of the hands and feet are the more obvious signs of RA. In about 20 percent of rheumatoid arthritis patients, foot and ankle symptoms are the first signs of the disease. Rheumatoid arthritis of the foot and ankle can become so severe and painful that it may affect the appearance of both feet. Thus, the end result may make the feet appear swollen, twisted out of natural alignment, and joints may become disabled.

What is Rheumatoid Foot Deformity?

Our foot and ankle specialist puts his best foot forward to treat those who suffer from rheumatoid foot deformity. Rheumatoid foot deformity is a progressive case of inflammation and destruction of growth cells within foot joints that eat away at healthy bone and cartilage. As a result of this, the foot joints lose their shape and alignment causing them to appear severely deformed. These deformities eventually lead to loss of healthy bone and cause the joints to collapse.

Common Causes of Rheumatoid Arthritis

Although the exact cause of rheumatoid arthritis has yet to be defined, foot doctors agree that many patients possess a genetic connection that leads to the development of RA. Women are affected with this condition about three times more than men. However, researchers are learning that the 1.3 million people living with rheumatoid arthritis may be caused by:

Environmental and chemical triggers
Family heredity and hormones
Unhealthy lifestyle

Symptoms of Rheumatoid Arthritis

At first, patients with RA might notice that the small joints in their feet experience questionable sensations of warmth, stiffness and swelling. These symptoms flare up every now and again, which last anywhere from a couple of days or for a few weeks before receding. Eventually, the symptoms will progress to the larger joints within the foot. It is a saddening statistic to report, but 60 percent of people with inadequately performed treatment may not respond to treatment after 10 years of the initial signs of RA. The most common symptoms of RA-related foot problems, in addition to the abnormal appearance of deformities, are swelling, pain, joint stiffness and difficulty bearing weight on the front of the forefoot.

Foot-related deformities and conditions associated with rheumatoid arthritis include:

Severe plantar fasciitis (Swelling tissue at the bottom of the foot, near the heal)
Metatarsophalangeal/MTP joint dislocations (joint in the big toe)
Difficulty walking with inability to bear weight on feet
Forefoot joint dislocations
Rheumatoid nodules (swollen or bumpy metatarsophalangeal joints)
Severe toe contractures including hammertoes and hallux valgus (bunions)
Flatfoot
Ankle pain
Achilles tendon discomfort
Rheumatoid Arthritis Treatment

Unfortunately, there is no cure for rheumatoid arthritis, but many methods of treatment are available to help the reduction of inflammation and control pain for this disease. Rheumatoid arthritis is often treated by a team of professionals and at our facility we can evaluate and prescribe the best treatment techniques that revolve around the complexity of your case. At first, we recommend a series of non-surgical treatments until they are exhausted, which many treatments will depend on the location of pain and the extent of cartilage damage.

90,000 Rheumatoid arthritis of the legs: treatment and symptoms

Rheumatoid arthritis is a systemic rheumatic disease that can lead to chronic inflammation and severe irreversible erosive and destructive damage to the joints, as well as damage to internal organs.

Symptoms

Rheumatoid arthritis has an autoimmune origin, that is, in essence, it is an inadequate response of the body to any irritating factors, when immune cells (lymphocytes) perceive the body’s own cells as foreign and attack them.

The disease is characterized by chronic synovitis (erosive inflammation of the joints), as a result of which connective tissue and other articular elements are destroyed. Usually, the synovial membranes of the small joints of the toes are initially affected.

Rheumatoid arthritis can occur in patients of different ages (usually 30+, although children also get sick). At the same time, it is noted that women suffer from rheumatoid arthritis almost 5 times more often, although they tolerate it somewhat easier than the male sex.In the absence of adequate therapy, there is a high risk of disability in patients in the first 5 years of illness.

The etiology of rheumatoid arthritis is not fully understood, but researchers believe that hereditary predisposition is often decisive. At the same time, the pathological process is infectious in nature and affects an increase in ESR and the number of leukocytes, which is associated with the introduction of infectious agents into the body, provoking a failure of immunity, and creating immune complexes of antibodies that accumulate in the joint area, causing the disease.

It was revealed that, as a rule, the onset of rheumatoid arthritis in almost half of the cases is preceded by influenza, tonsillitis or other acute respiratory diseases, as well as hypothermia, trauma, stress, hormonal changes and other negative provocative factors.

Rheumatoid arthritis of the legs is extremely dangerous not only with the loss of motor functions, but also with the risk of death due to complications, including renal failure.This is a really insidious disease, as it can almost asymptomatically destroy the body for many months until it manifests itself in full force, when the treatment is no longer so effective. Therefore, it is vitally important to begin examination and high-quality treatment of joints from the first signs of the disease, without waiting for the progression of leg arthritis.

Rheumatoid arthritis of the legs – symptoms

It is difficult to confuse rheumatoid arthritis of the legs with any other disease, since it has a rather peculiar and pronounced symptomatic picture. Main symptoms:

Pain in the joints of the legs. More often the pain bothers the patient in the first half of the day, then it can disappear and reappear at night, gradually increasing in the morning
Morning stiffness in the joints, reminiscent of “squeezing” the legs with tight boots. When a person “walks”, the stiffness is weakened or disappears altogether.
Swelling, swelling, redness in the leg, at the site of inflammation and deformity.
Muscle stiffness and limited movement of the leg joints.
The lesion of the joints of the legs, as a rule, is symmetrical. The fingertips are painful to pressure.
Arthritis of the legs usually starts from the small joints of the fingers, as the disease progresses, the inflammation moves to the large joints – the knee joint, ankle). Sometimes the opposite happens – rheumatoid arthritis begins in large joints, and with the development of the disease, arthritis affects the toes (in elderly patients).
The so-called rheumatoid nodules about the size of a pea are found in the place of the bends of the leg in rheumatoid arthritis.They can grow or shrink, disappear and reappear. They are visible through the skin, the patient is not disturbed, there is no pain.
Rheumatoid arthritis is accompanied by signs of general intoxication of the body. The patient experiences loss of energy, weakness, fatigue, and impaired appetite for a long time. Body temperature can jump, lymph nodes – increase. The patient often loses pounds. In general, feeling unwell often resembles the flu.
With the gradual progression of arthritis, persistent deformation of the joints of the legs, including the foot, occurs.In the legs, blood circulation worsens, the connection of the nerves with the central nervous system is weakened, the skin becomes pale, the muscles of the legs can atrophy.
In young children, attention should be paid to limping, irritability, tearfulness, refusal to eat. All of this may be indicative of arthritis affecting the legs. Arthritis treatment should be started immediately. But it must be preceded by a professional diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis.

Diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis and its methods

The difference between rheumatoid arthritis and other types of arthritis is that it is a systemic disease that affects not only the musculoskeletal system, but also other organs.Often, the variety of manifestations of rheumatoid arthritis and the absence of specific signs at the initial stage of the disease complicate the diagnosis.

A vivid clinical picture of rheumatoid arthritis of the legs sometimes becomes visible only after 1-2 years after the onset of the disease. At the same time, an experienced specialist will definitely consider the patient’s condition in a comprehensive manner and draw the right conclusions in order to start treatment for rheumatoid arthritis of the legs as early as possible, when the chances of a successful result are incomparably higher.

What diagnostic criteria does the doctor pay attention to?

Prolonged morning stiffness in the legs. About an hour after getting out of bed with rheumatoid arthritis, the legs feel awkward and mobility is impaired.
As a rule, rheumatoid arthritis affects the joints of both legs, that is, it manifests itself symmetrically. This is a distinctive feature of the rheumatoid form of joint inflammation.
The inflammatory process covers more than three groups of joints.More often the small joints become inflamed and begin to hurt – that is, the toes, then the inflammation spreads and rises to the large joints of the legs: ankle, knees. In some cases, arthritis can immediately affect large joints.
The presence of symptoms of reactive inflammation: pain in the joints of the legs, swelling, swelling of soft tissues near the diseased joint, redness. In the bone tissue, the studies reveal pathological changes, in the cavity of large joints – the accumulation of fluid (exudate).
In the place of flexion-extension of the joints, rheumatoid nodules are objectively visible – bumps, seals characteristic of rheumatoid arthritis of the legs and other joints.
Biochemical, immunological, general blood test. It may show anemia (it is noted that the amount of iron in the bone tissue, on the contrary, increases), increased ESR (ESR), indicating an inflammatory process. In addition, if rheumatoid arthritis is suspected, the level of leukocytes, platelets, fibrinogen, seromucoid, cryoglobulins, the presence and activity of C-reactive protein is determined.
A blood test for rheumatoid factor is positive. A blood sample is taken from a vein. In this case, a positive rheumatoid test can also be detected in other diseases: heart, liver and others. Also, a negative result does not prove one hundred percent absence of the disease – for example, at the initial stage, rheumatoid arthritis can flow imperceptibly, without showing a clinical picture. At one point, the condition with arthritis can deteriorate sharply, and then the rheumatoid factor becomes positive.Therefore, the analysis cannot be the only basis for the diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis; a comprehensive check is required.
X-ray shows osteoporosis (porosity) and bone erosion, which indicates the correct diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis of the legs.
Arthroscopy helps to detect uneven changes in the elements of the joint during arthritis, to see the growth of the synovium and to reveal the extent of narrowing of the joint space. The procedure removes pathological joint fluid, which contains particles of cartilage tissue, film and fibrin (adhesion-forming protein).
MRI of the joints of the legs with arthritis (magnetic resonance imaging) makes it possible to accurately diagnose rheumatoid arthritis of the legs at an early stage.
ADCP is a specific laboratory and clinical marker of rheumatoid arthritis, including legs. Recognized as a reliable and accurate indicator. It is the detection in the blood of antibodies to cyclic citrulinated polypeptide (CCP), which is involved in maintaining the healthy state of joint tissues. If there is a failure in the immune system, the body begins to treat the CCP as a foreign dangerous element and urgently produces special antibodies to combat it, in fact, acting against itself, it is not without reason that the disease is classified as autoimmune.Antibodies to CCP are found even at the earliest stage of arthritis and even in rheumatoid factor negative patients. Perhaps this is the most important and most informative criterion for diagnosing rheumatoid arthritis of the joints of the legs.

The patient does not have to have all these signs of arthritis, four are enough for the doctor to suggest rheumatoid arthritis of the joints of the legs. In this case, these symptoms should be present for at least 6 weeks. Further, the doctor prescribes additional laboratory tests, instrumental examinations, consultations of other specialists – a pulmonologist, a cardiologist, a gastroenterologist.And only after a comprehensive examination for arthritis and the identification of symptoms, the diagnosis can be made definitively.

Treatment

If rheumatoid arthritis is chronic, then it is not possible to completely cure it. This means that all your life you will have to carry out many appointments, periodically undergo therapeutic courses with medicines and physiotherapeutic agents, and lead a healthy lifestyle.If the diagnosis is confirmed, you need to be patient and clearly tune in to conscientious and regular treatment of arthritis and adherence to recommendations. A properly designed joint treatment program will reduce the intensity of leg pain, reduce inflammation, and improve mobility. In this case, the main goal is to bring rheumatoid arthritis of the legs into a state of stable and long-term remission.

Treatment of arthritis in no case should be uncontrolled – the consequences can be too severe and unpredictable.Constant supervision of the attending physician is necessary!

Rheumatoid arthritis requires a comprehensive multi-component treatment approach. The key elements of arthritis therapy are drugs of various groups – anti-inflammatory, cytostatics. Physiotherapy is also of great importance. Physical therapy and massage of a sore leg have effective properties for arthritis.

If arthritis is in an extremely neglected state, destruction and deformations are catastrophic, then conservative treatment seems ineffective and a choice can be made in favor of surgery and replacement of the joint with a prosthesis.

Medicines

NSAIDs – non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. They are aimed at eliminating inflammation, relieve pain well, but do not eliminate the causes of arthritis. These are symptomatic drugs that are dangerous to abuse. Long-term use can cause side problems not only with the joints. The dosage prescribed by the specialist should be strictly observed. Attention: drugs of the NSAID group are not compatible with each other! You cannot take multiple funds at once!

Basic drugs – drugs that help a patient with arthritis to lead a relatively normal existence, improve vital functions, reducing the pathological manifestations of joint disease – inflammation, pain syndrome, restoring the affected areas of the joint to integrity and slowing down destruction.

Biological group drugs (biological response modifiers in the form of injections). They reduce the degree of inflammation, act quickly, usually the result is visible after 2 weeks to a month. Their disadvantage is that they can suppress the immune system and, unfortunately, are very expensive. Their treatment is prescribed in case of ineffectiveness or intolerance of the basic funds.

Glucocorticoid hormones. Possesses a powerful anti-inflammatory effect against arthritis.They quickly return to working capacity and eliminate the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis of the legs: pain, joint stiffness, edema on the leg, swelling. They are used as a last resort, when the patient has practically lost his motor abilities and he is very unwell. They are taken for a short time, so that later they can switch to safer long-term drugs with a slower cumulative effect. Long-term intake of glucocorticoids is fraught with versatile side harm: osteoporosis, cataracts, weight gain, and a decrease in the body’s immune forces.

Analgesics. They have an analgesic and anti-inflammatory effect in arthritis. Basically, non-narcotic drugs (tablets, injections, ointments) are prescribed, but in exceptional cases they resort to narcotic drugs – urgently, one-time, under strict medical supervision, so that dependence does not form.

Physiotherapy for arthritis

With rheumatoid arthritis of the legs, physiotherapy procedures must be included in the joint treatment plan.Treating joints with physical therapy is simple and safe. Depending on the characteristics of the course of the disease, the specialist prescribes treatment methods from the following list:

electrophoresis,
magnetic therapy,
laser therapy,
UHF,
ultrasound,
ultraviolet,
balneotherapy,
mud therapy,
massage.

Electrophoresis is used in the treatment of direct current as a conductor of medicinal substances (for example, novocaine, prednisolone) deep into the joint.The method helps to eliminate pain in the legs, reduce swelling around the joint, activate blood circulation and lymph circulation, accelerate the outflow of decay products, helps in the resorption of accumulated exudate, enhances the absorption of drugs, useful elements.

Magnetotherapy – treatment with a magnetic field, a popular and affordable method of physiotherapy for leg arthritis with a minimum of contraindications. It is widely applicable not only in clinical but also at home due to portable devices based on magnetic field.Treatment with magnetic impulse fields stimulates blood flow and metabolic processes in the joints, dilates blood vessels in the legs, helps deliver nutrition, oxygen and drugs to the joint, remove harmful metabolites, remove unpleasant symptoms, and promotes remission and recovery.

Laser therapy has a regenerating effect, improves local immunity and relieves inflammation in the joint area. Forbidden in diabetes.

UHF – the effect of an ultra-high-frequency electromagnetic field on a sore joint.During treatment, it helps in relieving pain, edema, inflammation in arthritis, and normalizes vascular permeability.

Ultrasound relieves inflammation, redness, swelling, joint pain. Affects the regeneration of damaged tissues. Strengthens blood circulation. Helps to expand the range of motion in the leg joint.

Ultraviolet . Radiation helps to reduce pain and inflammation, actively helps in the synthesis of vitamin D, which is important for bone and joint balance.

Massage. Significantly stimulates local blood circulation in the joint in case of arthritis, relieves muscle tension, participates in the establishment of metabolism, prevents adhesions, ankylosis. It is allowed only during the period of remission, when there is no inflammation!

Treatment with mud. This is a type of heating, in which bioactive substances contained in therapeutic mud are delivered to the affected area. The procedure is capable of providing anti-pain, anti-inflammatory and restorative effects in case of joint diseases.

Balneotherapy. Healing baths (iodine-bromine, radon, coniferous) improve overall health, promote recovery processes in rheumatoid arthritis of the legs, promote the fastest recovery of joint tissues, remove toxic substances from the joint area, improve blood circulation and joint mobility.

Any chronic joint disease, including rheumatoid arthritis of the legs, requires a serious revision and adjustment of the lifestyle – activity, nutrition, behavior.

Of course, quitting bad habits (alcohol and smoking) should happen by default. In addition, you should stop drinking coffee and switch to a special dietary diet, which means giving up fatty meat, potatoes, citrus fruits, and a number of cereals. It is desirable to increase the amount of fermented milk products and carotene-containing products (carrots, pumpkin).

These are the primary general recommendations for food intake for arthritis, and more detailed rules will be set by the attending physician, who will take into account all the nuances of the course of joint disease, concomitant diagnoses, age and other characteristics of a particular patient.

It is important to reduce the stress on the sore joints of the legs, which will require getting rid of excess weight. Both diet and balanced, carefully selected exercise will help in this.

A correct lifestyle and adherence to all medical prescriptions for complex treatment of leg joints are designed to help avoid the rapid progression and complications of rheumatoid arthritis and enable the patient to maintain an acceptable quality of life.But treating rheumatoid arthritis will take a long time and hard.

Observe all recommendations of the attending doctor and be healthy!

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Rheumatoid arthritis – causes, diagnosis and treatment in Astrakhan | Diseases

Reasons

Autoimmune nature of the lesion

Symptoms

Morning stiffness in the affected joints
General fatigue and malaise
Loss of appetite
Weakness
Joint pain, swelling

Rheumatoid arthritis can start suddenly, with simultaneous inflammation of many joints.Most often, the disease begins imperceptibly, with gradual damage to various joints. Usually, the inflammation is symmetrical, and the joints on both sides of the body are damaged in approximately the same way.

Rheumatoid arthritis can affect any joints, but most often the small joints of the hands, wrists, fingers, and feet are inflamed. Other commonly affected joints include the knee, shoulder, elbow, ankle, and femoral joints. Rheumatoid arthritis can also affect the neck. There is no lesion of the lower spine and joints at the fingertips.

Inflamed joints are usually painful and often stiff, especially after waking (this stiffness usually lasts longer than 60 minutes) or after a long period of rest. Some people feel tired and weak, especially in the afternoon. In rheumatoid arthritis, decreased appetite with weight loss and low-grade fever are possible.

Affected joints are usually painful, warm to the touch, and enlarged due to swelling of the soft tissue lining the joint (synovitis) and, in some cases, accumulation of fluid in the joint (synovial fluid).Very soon, these joints can become deformed. The joints can be locked in a certain position, which prevents its full bending or extension and leads to a limitation of the range of motion.

A slight shift of the fingers from the normal position towards the little finger of each hand is possible. In this case, the tendons are displaced from their place, and the possibility of other deformations is also possible. Up to 30% of people with rheumatoid arthritis have hard bumps under the surface of the skin (called rheumatoid nodules)

Rheumatoid Arthritis: Diagnosis and Treatment

Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic disease of infectious and inflammatory origin, in which mainly peripheral small joints are affected.It is characterized by destructive processes in the articular tissue. Among other things, rheumatoid arthritis is considered an autoimmune disease, that is, the defense system ceases to distinguish foreign, foreign microorganisms (viruses, bacteria) from its own cells, and thus directs its aggression to its own body.

The prevalence of rheumatoid arthritis among the adult population of various climatic and geographical zones is on average 0.6 – 1.3%. An increase in rheumatoid arthritis with age is noted, women are sick more often than men.

Causes of arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis refers to autoimmune diseases, that is, diseases that occur when the normal functioning of the immune system is disrupted. It is believed that the provoking factors for the onset of the disease are:

Genetic predisposition – close relatives of patients with rheumatoid arthritis develop this disease much more often.
Infections – often arthritis occurs after measles, herpes infection, hepatitis B, mumps.
Unfavorable factors of the external and internal environment – hypothermia, exposure to toxic products, including occupational hazards, stress, as well as pregnancy, breastfeeding, menopause.

Under the influence of these factors, the cells of the immune system begin to attack the cells of the lining of the joint, which causes inflammation in them. As a result of this process, the joints become swollen, warm and painful when touched.

Symptoms

In rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory swelling of the metacarpophalangeal joints of the index and middle fingers of both hands appears, and inflammation of the wrist joints is also possible.The defeat of the joints is symmetrical (appears almost simultaneously on both hands). The affected joints are covered with pain, which intensifies at night and closer to the morning. Joint pain usually bothers patients in the morning, in the afternoon they decrease and disappear altogether. At night, at about 3 o’clock, the pain intensifies and does not go away until the morning.

In rheumatoid arthritis, there is a symmetrical lesion of the small joints of the legs (more often at the base of the fingers) with pain when pressing on the cushions of the toes.In the process of disease progression, inflammation of the larger joints (knee, shoulder, elbow, ankle) occurs. It should be noted that some forms of arthritis occur with the defeat of not small, but large joints, to which later the defeat of small joints joins (more often found in elderly people).

Patients with rheumatoid arthritis are characterized by morning stiffness in the affected joints (a feeling as if the joints are “numb” or are in tight gloves or boots).The feeling of stiffness is noted for several hours after waking up, after which it completely disappears or diminishes.

In the area of the bends of the elbows, feet, hands, dense subcutaneous formations appear – rheumatoid nodules, which usually do not exceed the size of a pea. Rheumatoid nodules are a cosmetic defect, they usually do not cause anxiety to the patient and can change their size over the years, disappear and reappear.

Symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis are characterized by signs of intoxication of the body: a feeling of weakness, decreased appetite, increased or decreased body temperature, weight loss.

A pronounced picture of rheumatoid arthritis is accompanied by persistent deformation of the hands and fingers. The mobility in the joints is limited, they are fixed in the wrong position. Over time, there is a violation of blood circulation and innervation of the hands, blanching of the skin and muscle atrophy occur.

Diagnostics

To make a diagnosis, general laboratory tests are performed, which indicate the presence of an inflammatory process in the body: a general blood test, biochemical tests, which also allow assessing the function of internal organs.

Instrumental diagnostic methods:

Treatment

Treatment should be aimed at reducing the degree of activity of the process, at reducing pain, stiffness in the joints, as well as preventing complications.

Proper nutrition plays an important role in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. Patients with rheumatoid arthritis are advised to completely eliminate fatty meats, milk, citrus fruits, corn, oats and rye from the diet. A low-calorie vegetarian diet has a positive effect.

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and glucocorticoids have a pronounced anti-inflammatory and analgesic effect. These drugs can be used already in the early stages of the development of the disease according to a certain scheme.

In addition to drug therapy to remove circulating inflammatory provocateurs, hemosorption is shown (removal of certain substances from the blood by fixing them on sorbents) and plasmapheresis (removal of plasma with harmful substances and its replacement with the same volume of donor plasma).

Local treatment consists in the administration of anti-inflammatory drugs into the joint cavity, as well as application of ointments and gels containing NSAIDs to the joint.

Physiotherapy is used in combination with drugs for the local treatment of inflammation. Ultraviolet irradiation of joints, magnetotherapy, electrophoresis of anti-inflammatory drugs, laser therapy can be recommended. Massage and physiotherapy exercises are prescribed when the inflammatory process subsides.

Surgical treatment is indicated for severe joint deformities.Currently, the removal of a portion of the damaged membrane, or of an entire joint, with subsequent prosthetics, is successfully used. As a supportive treatment, it is recommended to wear orthoses – special devices that are worn on the affected limb, usually at night, and by maintaining a certain shape do not allow the joints to deform.

90,000 Rheumatoid nodes in the lung parenchyma in rheumatoid arthritis | Satybaldyev

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13. Massey H, Darby M, Edey A. Thoracic complications of rheumatoid disease.Clin Radiol. 2013; 68 (3): 293-301. doi: 10.1016 / j.crad.2012.07.007

14. Capobianco J, Grimberg A, Thompson BM, et al. Thoracic manifestations of collagen vascular diseases. Radiogr Rev Publ Radiol Soc North Am Inc. 2012; 32: 33-50. doi: 10.1148 / rg.321105058

15. Ozkaya S, Bilgin S, Hamsici S, Findik S. The pulmonary radiologic findings of rheumatoid arthritis.Respir Med CME. 2011; 4 (4): 187-92. doi: 10.1016 / j.rmedc.2011.03.003

16. Yousem SA, Colby TV, Carrington CB. Lung biopsy in rheumatoid arthritis. Am Rev Respir Dis. 1985; 131: 770-7.

17. Franquet T. High-resolution CT of lung disease related to collagen vascular disease. Radiol Clin North Am. 2001; 39 (6): 1171-87. doi: 10.1016 / S0033-8389 (05) 70337-7

18.Mori S, Cho I, Koga Y, Sugimoto M. Comparison of pulmonary abnormalities on high-resolution computed tomography in patients with early versus longstanding rheumatoid arthritis. J Rheumatol. 2008; 35 (8): 1513-2.

19. Yunt ZX, Solomon JJ. Lung Disease in Rheumatoid Arthritis. Rheum Dis Clin North Am. 2015 May; 41 (2): 225-36. doi: 10.1016 / j.rdc.2014.12.004

20.King TE Jr, Kim EJ, Kinder BW. Connective tissue diseases. In: Schwarz MI, King TE Jr, eds. Interstitial lung disease. 5th ed. Shelton, Conn: People’s Medical Publishing House USA; 2011.689 p.

21. Schreiber J, Koschel D, Kekow J, et al. Rheumatoid pneumoconiosis (Caplan’s syndrome). Eur J Intern Med. 2010; 21: 168-72. doi: 10.1016 / j.ejim.2010.02.004

22.Galushko EA, Belenky YES, Alexandrova EN, Kashnikova LN. The role of hepcidin in the development of anemia in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Scientific and practical rheumatology. 2012; 52 (3): 19-24 [Galushko EA, Belenky DA, Aleksandrova EN, Kashnikova LN. Role of hepcidin in the development of anemia in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Nauchno- Prakticheskaya Revmatologiya = Rheumatology Science and Practice. 2012; 50 (3): 19-24 (In Russ.)]. doi: 10.14412 / 1995-4484-2012-704

23.Mazurov VI, Bogdanov AN. Diagnostics and treatment of lung lesions in patients with rheumatoid arthritis Scientific and practical rheumatology. 2003; 41 (1): 52-6 [Mazurov VI, Bogdanov AN. Diagnosis and treatment of pulmonary lesion in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Nauchno-Prakticheskaya Revmatologiya = Rheumatology Science and Practice. 2003; 41 (1): 52-6 (In Russ.)]. doi: 10.14412 / 1995-4484-2003-1136

24. Kim SH, Yoo WH. Recurrent pneumothorax associated with pulmonary nodules after leflunomide therapy in rheumatoid arthritis: A case report and review of the literature.Rheumatol Int. 2011; 31: 919-22. doi: 10.1007 / s00296-009-1240-9

25. Edwards JCW, Wilkinson LS, Pitsillides AA. Palisading cells of rheumatoid nodules: comparison with synovial intimal cells. Ann Rheum Dis. 1993; 52: 801-5. doi: 10.1136 / ard.52.11.801

26. Rosenberg EF. The pathology of rheumatoid arthritis In Arthritis and allied conditions.In: Hollander JL, editor. A textbook of rheumatology. Part 2. Boland EW, editor. The study of rheumatoid arthritis. Philadelphia; 1960. P. 179-94.

27. Baeten D, De Keyser F, Veys EM, et al. Tumour necrosis factor a independent disease mechanisms in rheumatoid arthritis: a histopathological study on the effect of infliximab on rheumatoid nodules. Ann Rheum Dis. 2004; 63: 489-93. doi: 10.1136 / ard.2003.012302

28.Douglas KM, Ladoyanni E, Treharne GJ, et al. Cutaneous abnormalities in rheumatoid arthritis compared with noninflammatory rheumatic conditions. Ann Rheum Dis. 2006; 65 (10): 1341-5. doi: 10.1136 / ard.2005.048934

29. Talotta R, Atzeni F, Batticciotto A, et al. Accelerated subcutaneous nodulosis in patients with rheumatoid arthritis treated with tocilizumab: a case series. J Med Case Rep. 2018; 12: 154. doi: 10.1186 / s13256-018-1687-y

30.Sayah A, English JC, 3rd. Rheumatoid arthritis: a review of the cutaneous manifestations. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2005; 53 (2): 191-209. doi: 10.1016 / j.jaad.2004.07.023

31. Watson P, Simler N, Screaton N, Lillicrap M. Management of accelerated pulmonary nodulosis following etanercept therapy in a patient with rheumatoid arthritis. Rheumatology (Oxford). 2008; 47: 928-9. doi: 10.1093 / rheumatology / ken102

32.Toussirot E, Berthelot JM, Pertuiset E, et al. Pulmonary nodulosis and aseptic granulomatous lung disease occurring in patients with rheumatoid arthritis receiving tumor necrosis factor-alpha-blocking agent: A case series. J Rheumatol. 2009; 36: 2421-7. doi: 10.3899 / jrheum.0

90,000 Rheumatoid arthritis: diagnosis and treatment

Joint pain, feeling of “stiffness” in the morning. What is it? Overworked at work? Did you “work out” in the gym? Have a cold?

The above manifestations may indicate an ailment, the cause of which is still not fully understood today.

Rheumatoid arthritis. We are talking about him with the candidate of medical sciences, rheumatologist “Clinic Expert Voronezh” Strelnikova Inna Alekseevna.

– Inna Alekseevna, what is rheumatoid arthritis and what are the reasons for this disease?

This is an immunoinflammatory rheumatic disease of unknown etiology. It is characterized by chronic erosive arthritis and systemic damage to internal organs.

The causes of rheumatoid arthritis are currently unknown in medicine.According to world statistics, on average, about 1% of the population suffers from it.

– Is rheumatoid arthritis coded in ICD-10?

Yes. It is listed under the code M05 (seropositive rheumatoid arthritis) and M06 (other rheumatoid arthritis).

– What happens to the body with rheumatoid arthritis?

The development of this disease is based on inflammation of the immune nature, mainly affecting the tissues of the joints.

At the initial stages, the patient complains of pain and swelling in the joints, morning stiffness for more than 30 minutes.The small joints of the hands and feet are most often affected.

Extra-articular manifestations are also characteristic of this pathology. These include vasculitis of the skin and other organs, neuropathies, pleurisy, Sjogren’s syndrome, rheumatoid nodules.

In rheumatoid arthritis, the so-called constitutional symptoms are sometimes noted: general weakness, weight loss, increased body temperature. But these signs may not be there.

– Is this disease sneaking up unnoticed or does rheumatoid arthritis have precursors?

Harbingers are not always there.The disease can begin immediately with the classic manifestations. However, nonspecific complaints of joint pain can often be observed throughout the year. Pains change their localization (that is, in one or the other joint), or are noted simultaneously in several, symmetrically or not symmetrically. There may also be “stiffness”, swelling of the joints (optional). At this stage, the diagnosis of “undifferentiated arthritis” is made.

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As an independent manifestation, without articular signs, the erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) can increase, the content of C-reactive protein increases (laboratory signs of inflammation).Here, too, the constitutional manifestations of which I spoke can be noted.

– Which joints are most often affected by rheumatoid arthritis?

Certain small joints of the hands and feet (metacarpophalangeal and metacarpophalangeal, proximal interphalangeal joints of the hands and feet). Much less often large joints are affected: hip, knee, wrist, shoulder.

– What is included in the diagnostic standard for rheumatoid arthritis?

Complaints are collected, a detailed anamnesis, a thorough examination, an objective examination of the patient.

Laboratory tests are mandatory. These include a general blood test, a general urine test, a blood test for C-reactive protein, rheumatoid factor, antibodies to cyclic citrullinated peptide (ACCP).

X-rays of the joints of the hands and / or feet are also performed, as well as any other joints that show obvious manifestations.

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According to indications, X-ray or computed tomography of the chest organs, electrocardiography and other studies can be performed.

– What is the difference between rheumatism, rheumatoid arthritis and polyarthritis?

The concept of “rheumatism” is no longer used in modern medicine. Instead, the designations “acute rheumatic fever” and “rheumatic heart disease” are adopted.

Acute rheumatic fever occurs more often in young people, more often in women (from 7 to 25 years old). It begins with a sore throat (acute period). After 2-3 weeks, joint pains, heart pains, may be erythema annular, chorea.

Acute rheumatic fever can occur without or with the formation of a heart defect. In the latter case, they speak of rheumatic heart disease. If the defect does not form, rheumatic fever usually goes away, its repetitions are extremely rare. Today, this pathology is less common.

As for polyarthritis, the name suggests that we are talking about an inflammatory lesion of several joints. Polyarthritis can be rheumatoid, psoriatic, etc.etc. Ie. it is not an independent diagnosis, but rather a syndrome.

– Who is more likely to develop rheumatoid arthritis: men or women?

For women. The onset of the disease is more often from 40 to 55 years old (less often – at a younger and later age). The ratio to men in frequency is 3: 1.

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– Can this diagnosis be in children?

Yes. It is formulated as “juvenile rheumatoid arthritis”.

– Who is at risk for developing rheumatoid arthritis?

These are people who, in the absence of symptoms of the disease, have an increased level of rheumatoid factor, ACCP, in their blood. This pattern can be observed for several years. The disease itself may not develop at the same time.

The rest of the identification of the risk group is problematic. Heredity and the factor of predisposition are not fully understood.

A provoking factor (not a risk factor) may be hypothermia, a previous infection.

– What doctors specialize in treating patients with rheumatoid arthritis?

Mainly rheumatologists.

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In remote areas where there are no such specialists, patients can be treated by general practitioners and general practitioners, but with periodic consultations of rheumatologists.However, it is still better for such patients to be dealt with by a rheumatologist.

You can make an appointment with a rheumatologist here

attention: consultations are not available in all cities

If necessary, orthopedists, neurologists, etc. are involved in the treatment.

– Can this disease be cured once and for all or is this serious diagnosis a sentence?

Rheumatoid arthritis is not a death sentence. There is an answer to the question of whether it is curable or not.With the right treatment, you can achieve low disease activity or complete remission for a certain period of time. The treatment is carried out for life.

– Are rheumatoid arthritis and hormonal treatment synonymous or is therapy possible without the use of hormone-containing drugs?

Treatment without hormonal preparations is possible. Ideally, it is not applied at all, or such agents are used topically (in particular, intra-articular injection).

In other cases, such drugs can be prescribed systemically (for example, in the form of tablets) – at the onset of the disease, with pronounced activity of inflammation.Subsequently, they are canceled. In some cases, small dosages of hormones are used constantly.

– What are the consequences of rheumatoid arthritis?

In the absence of proper treatment and significant activity of the inflammatory process – early disability, joint deformities, increased risk of infectious diseases. With the involvement of internal organs in the process (cardiovascular, pulmonary pathology, etc.) – a decrease in life expectancy.

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– Does rheumatoid arthritis impose restrictions on the patient’s lifestyle? What can and cannot be done with this disease?

With low activity of the process or in the stage of remission, regular light physical activity, cycling, swimming are possible.It is recommended to eat rationally, observe the regime of work and rest. In the absence of joint deformity, there are no special restrictions.

Hypothermia, infectious diseases should be avoided. Excessive physical activity is undesirable: rheumatoid arthritis and high-performance sports are, in my opinion, incompatible things. This can worsen the course of rheumatoid arthritis.

Avoid excess weight, quit smoking. With any activity of the process, you should not visit saunas and baths.

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– Tell us about the prevention of rheumatoid arthritis. How not to provoke an exacerbation of the disease?

Since the cause of the disease has not been understood, there is no primary prevention.

Prevention of recurrence of rheumatoid arthritis includes the constant implementation of the recommendations of a rheumatologist for treatment; to give up smoking; avoiding hypothermia, infections, excessive physical exertion; maintaining a normal body weight.

For information:

Strelnikova Inna Alekseevna

Graduated from the medical faculty of the Voronezh State Medical Academy in 2007.

In 2008, she graduated from a clinical internship with a degree in Therapy.

From 2008 to 2011, she passed full-time postgraduate study in the specialty “Internal Medicine”. He has a PhD in Medicine.

In 2009 completed primary specialization in rheumatology.

From 2015 to the present, he has been working as a rheumatologist at Clinic Expert Voronezh LLC. In Voronezh, it is received at the address: Voronezh, st. Pushkinskaya, house number 11.

Treatment of rheumatoid arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis is a rheumatic disease, therefore, you should seek qualified medical help from a rheumatologist.

Rheumatoid arthritis is characterized by erosive and destructive lesions of the peripheral joints.Symmetrical involvement of the joints of the feet and hands is also characteristic. As for other, non-articular manifestations, peripheral neuropathy, subcutaneous nodules, vasculitis, etc. are noted.

The most striking clinical manifestation is articular syndrome. Also, there are signs such as fatigue, asthenic state, increased sweating, subfebrile condition, stiffness after sleep. Infectious diseases, hypothermia, injuries provoke rheumatoid arthritis.

Acute and subacute RA is characterized by an increase in temperature to febrile values, arthralgia, and the appearance of functional disorders.

Consultation of a rheumatologist in case of suspected rheumatoid arthritis is required. The specialist will need the results of a peripheral blood test, an X-ray examination. Sometimes the results of MRI, microscopy of the joint fluid may be required. So, in patients with rheumatoid arthritis, anemia, an increase in the erythrocyte sedimentation rate, and an increase in the number of leukocytes are detected. The number of T-lymphocytes decreases, antikeratin antibodies are detected and, of course, rheumatoid factor is detected.

The mechanism of the development of the disease is based on autoimmune reactions, the development of which is associated with a response to the action of unknown causal factors.

Adequate drug therapy is required, including long-term use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, etc.

Our clinic is famous for highly qualified specialists with many years of experience, including doctors and candidates of science. The medical institution is equipped with all the necessary equipment, therefore examinations, consultations, treatment, rehabilitation – all this is carried out in one place.If necessary, a council of doctors will work on your problem. We offer both standalone services and service packages.

Have you decided to make an appointment with a specialist? Check out the current schedule of our doctors, choose a convenient time and sign up for an online consultation by filling out the appropriate form. Also on the site you can ask a question directly to a specialist – you will definitely be answered by e-mail. Still have questions or can’t sign up? Leave your contact number by clicking on the phone icon in the lower right corner.We will call you back at a convenient time for you. Do not delay treatment. We are waiting for you at the Artus clinic!

90,000 Do your joints hurt? Research on arthrosis and arthritis

The onset of the disease is characterized by joint pain when the arm or leg is twisted. Increasingly, in the morning, stiffness of movements worries, which can last for several hours. The clinical picture is added by edema and redness in the area of the joints. After a while, it becomes impossible to perform the simplest actions – walking, wiggling fingers and other parts of the body where the disease began to develop.And depending on the characteristics of the course of the disease and other factors, this disease is called arthritis or arthrosis.

Arthritis

The cause of arthritis is a previous infection, a “failure” of the body’s immune system or metabolic disorder. The disease is promoted by a hereditary predisposition and a “sedentary” lifestyle. As a rule, people under 40 get sick with arthritis. Although there are exceptions, when already at a fairly old age, the disease can manifest itself after a cold or other infectious disease.

Rheumatoid arthritis, which affects connective tissues and small joints, is the most common treatment for this disease. Rheumatoid arthritis belongs to a class of autoimmune diseases. A healthy body produces protective antibodies to destroy viruses and bacteria. But, for reasons unknown to date, these antibodies can attack healthy joint cells, thereby destroying them. Doctors believe that the reasons for this behavior of antibodies are hereditary characteristics of the body, viruses and stress.With rheumatoid arthritis, the joints begin to deform, there are swelling and redness in the joints, small seals (rheumatoid nodules). After awakening, when the body was immobile for a long time, stiffness and pain in the joints appear. At the same time, the temperature rises and general weakness appears. The insidiousness of the disease lies in the fact that in addition to the joints, the skin, heart, lungs, kidneys and liver are gradually affected. Sometimes there are periods of temporary improvement, but then the disease progresses with greater force, therefore, prompt and long-term treatment is necessary.

Osteoarthritis

People over forty years old are most often at risk of developing arthrosis. There is a destruction of the joints and changes in bone tissue. The disease can be promoted by trauma, unhealthy diet (abuse of fried and fatty foods), overweight, a sedentary lifestyle, genetic predisposition, as well as congenital joint defects. More often, arthrosis develops under the influence of prolonged stress. During stress, muscle spasm occurs, and as a result of muscle pressure, the cartilage of the joint begins to break down.In addition, stress hormones also play a role in this process, in particular cortisol, which, accumulating and disrupting blood circulation around the joint, destroys cartilage tissue. Symptoms of arthrosis: sharp joint pain, worsening in the evening, swelling of individual joints (primarily toes), limited mobility.

At the first ailments in question, it is necessary to consult a doctor. The sooner the diagnosis is made and therapy is prescribed, the higher the chance to prevent complications and quickly “get on your feet.”

Studies for arthrosis and arthritis include the following tests:

general blood test – the number of erythrocytes, leukocytes, platelets, hemoglobin in the blood is determined to diagnose the inflammatory process;
erythrocyte sedimentation rate – shows the activity of the inflammatory process in the body;
rheumatoid factor – diagnostics of autoimmune diseases;
C-reactive protein – diagnostics of inflammation and tissue damage;
other tests with which you can diagnose the disease at the earliest stages, depending on the case shown.

Where to get tested for joint pain.

You can take a blood test arthritis or arthrosis at any point of Sinevo in Minsk, Gomel, Brest, Grodno, Vitebsk, Mogilev, Bobruisk, Baranovichi, Soligorsk, Slutsk, Polotsk, Novopolotsk, Orsha, Zhlobinechno, Svetlogorsk , Rechitsa, Mozyr, Smorgon.